Sustainia100 2015

Page 130

Health

Solution by: SOIL

Ecological Toilets Contributing to Food Security  In Haiti, SOIL provides affordable ecological sanitation and waste treatment services that are critical for health, local agricultural production, and economic development.

TE C LI M A IT F BENE

post at com e st s th by SOIL h sugg duced ro p t Re se arc a gas th e se k u li o h ts ree n me n ff set g 2 ame nd o y tl n ca ons . sig nifi e mis si

Through SOIL’s social business design, customers rent a household “EkoLakay” toilet for a monthly fee of approximately $5 per home. SOIL sanitation workers visit each household to collect toilet waste each week and deliver a fresh supply of carbon material which is used for “flushing” composting toilets. Currently 311 households subscribe to the service, with more signing up daily.

ENVIRONMENTAL Safe management of human waste prevents pollution while restoring ecosystems. THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

SOCIAL Safe sanitation reduces risk of diarrheal disease, which is the second leading cause of death among children under five years old globally. 3

ECONOMIC SOIL reports that it has sold approximately 75,000 gallons of compost to date, creating livelihood opportunities throughout the ecological sanitation cycle.

“SOIL recognizes that the most threatened and marginalized human beings are generally found living in similarly threatened ecosystems.” DR. SASHA KRAMER, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOIL

DEVELOPED IN ...

HAITI

DEPLOYED IN ...

HAITI

1

WHO. “Earthquake: Haiti: Public Health Risk Assessments and Interventions.” Report. 2013.

2 Delonge, Marcia S., Rebecca Ryals, and Whendee L. Silver. “A Lifecycle Model to Evaluate Carbon Sequestration Potential and Greenhouse Gas Dynamics of Managed Grasslands.” University of California at Berkeley. 2013. 3

WHO. “Diarrhoeal Disease: Fact Sheet No 330.” 2013. Online: www.who.int

128

SUSTAINIA100

The collected waste is then transported to the SOIL composting waste treatment facility where it is transformed into rich, organic, agricultural-grade compost through a carefully monitored process. Revenue from monthly toilet user fees, waste treatment fees, and sale of compost supports ongoing business development costs. WHY A SUSTAINIA100 SOLUTION? In Haiti, diarrhea accounts for 16% of deaths among children under age five.1 In transforming human waste into safe, agricultural-grade compost, SOIL proves it is possible to affordably and sustainably provide household sanitation and waste treatment services, even in the most impoverished and water-scarce communities, while supporting economic development and food security.

SOIL’s sanitation service results in rich organic fertilizer to boost local food production.


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.